After WWII the United States and the Soviet Union occupied Korea after repelling the Japanese, which divided it into two in the 38th parallel.
The U.S. wanted unification through national elections with the Soviet Union. The SU didn't want elections in their zone and from these events, rose a bloody civil war.
In addition to withdrawing its troops, the United States also stated publicly that Korea fell outside its area of Asian concern. North Korean communists—supported with Soviet supplies—seized this advantage and invaded South Korea in June 1950.
During the Korean War, the United States appealed to the United Nations to stop the Communist move into South Korea.
General Douglas MacArthur, from the UN, pushed the North Koreans toward the boundary separating China from North Korea, the Chinese saw it as a threat to their safety and on November 25, 1950, the Chinese troops drove the UN troops back to South Korea.
MacArthur wanted to bomb China but President Truman refused. MacArthur then tried to win support for his war aims but went too far. Truman fired MacArthur.
In the 1952 presidential campaign, Eisenhower won a landslide victory. He criticized the unpopular war and he promised to end the war quickly.
A cease-fire ended the fighting in 1953. Communism had been contained in Korea. Americans felt frustrated by the indecisive war.
The end of the war led to an containment policy, in which the U.S. would be able to intervene militarily if necessary to contain the spread of communism.
3 Photos:
The Korean War lasted only three years, starting only five years after the end of World War II.
The United Nations drove North Korea to the boundary separating China from North Korea. The Chinese troops drove the UN all the way back to South Korea.
This picture shows some of the thousands of casualties of the Korean War.
2 Maps:
This is where the Korean War took place.
This is a map the shows the invasion and the counterstroke. Shows how the troops moved.
1 Quote:
"Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met." ~1950 Korea 1953
Quote found in the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C.
KOREAN WAR
9 Facts:
3 Photos:
The Korean War lasted only three years, starting only five years after the end of World War II.
The United Nations drove North Korea to the boundary separating China from North Korea. The Chinese troops drove the UN all the way back to South Korea.
This picture shows some of the thousands of casualties of the Korean War.
2 Maps:
This is where the Korean War took place.
This is a map the shows the invasion and the counterstroke. Shows how the troops moved.
1 Quote:
"Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met." ~1950 Korea 1953
Quote found in the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C.